Can-feeder.



W. SPAIN.

GAN FEEDER.

APPLIGATION FILED 00T.26,19oa.

94,828@ Patented Dec. 28, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W. SPATLN CAN FEEDERA APPLICATION FILED @61226, 1908.

Patente. Eea. 28, HLSW 2 SHEETS-SBEET 2.

| 1 L? llll Vi I @l I mz UNITED sTATEs PATENT oFEicE.

WILLIAM SPAIN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR T0 CORN PRODUCTS REFINING COMPANY, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 04F NEW JERSEY.

CAN-FEEDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Can-Feeders, of whichthe followinfr is av full, clear, concise,fand exact description,

reference being4 had `to the accompanying drawings, forming .af-part of this specification.

My invention relates to can feeding machines and has for its general obj ect the provision of mechanism which will automaticallydisposecan's, pails, or other receptacles in uniform position and transfer them While such position is maintained, for whatever subsequent treatment may be desired, in predetermined presentation.

The device of my invention is especially adapted for use in combination with labeling mechanism and I have therefore -illustrated it as so applied, though it is evident that my invention is not only adapted to this association, b ut is also capable ofv other uses and other association.

The nature of my inventionv Will be well understood by a description of the preferred embodiment .thereof shown in the accompanying drawings, in which" Figures 1 .and 1a, appearing upon different sheets yof the drawings, when 'placed end to end along the vertical dash lines, together constitute a side central elevation of the machine on line 'a a or Fig. 2, certain structural parts not being illustrated in -order that important characteristics of construction may more clearly appear. Fig. 2 is a View vpartly in cross-section and partly in end elevation, of the structure as it appears in Figs. 1 and 1a.

Like parts are indlcated by similar characters ofreference throughout the different figures.

The cans, having the bail-receiving ears 1 1, are placed at random upon the receiving ends of the track rails -2-2, beneath which are mounted the clock-wise rotatingV sprocket Wheels 3-4 in engagement with a sprocket chain or belt 5 that is driven by one of the sprocket wheels. Fingers 6 are provided at regular intervals along the sprocketchain or belt, the space between adjacent fingers being considerably in excess Apii'ction rined october 261908. serial No. 459,537."

-guard rails track structure 2, but `'the iingers car.- r'ied on Sthexupper stretch vof said sprocket chain are adapted to-fproject considerably above said track st ructure.- The chain is disposed between therails and ina ver- `tical plane parallel therewith, whereby said fingers, in rounding the sprocket wheel '3, aregradually projected to their fullextent above Said rails, whereby the cans (which .are loaded'at random uponthe tracks in advance ofthe rising fingers) areenga-ged by saidfingers and movedalong the track toward the labeling mechanism;` I

In order that similar parts kvof thee/ans may be initially presented to ,theflabeling mechanism, the cans are caused 'toslide along the rails 2-2 during a pa lrt,` of the travel of .the cans toward the labeling mechanism and in order toprevent the cans from rolling upon their ears-during the time that the cans areto slide on the rails32-2, I locate two 'guard rrails '7 7 above the rails 22, the rails of the guard structure gether than the rails 2*-2 to"acco1nmodate other mechanism to .be described. The 7 are .but a. fraction of the length of the rails 2, as their function is simply to insure the vproper location of the cans upon the tracks 2-2 duringl the` time that said cans are to'slide upon said tracks, mechanism being provided -for rolling the vcans upon the tracks 2 after thecans'have passed the guard rails which take part in properly presenting the cans to the mechanism that effects the rotation of the cans' on the tracks toward the labeling mechanism. The vertical space between the rails 2 and 7 is just enough in excess of -theca-n diameter to afford clearance between the upper rails and 7 being sufthe sliding cans, the rails 2 an lciently close together to prevent the cans from rising upon their lower ears. the illustration it will be observed that any rotating tendency imparted to thecans is not only resistedby the lower ears of the cans coming in contact With a .lower rail 2, but also bythe upper ears coming in contact with an upper rail 7, the diameters of the cans passing through the can ears being rearwardly inclinedwhile the cans are passing between the guarding devices 2 and 7 The distance over which the cans vare caused to slide is suliicient in extent to insure similar positions of the cans when they u Patented Dec. 28,

l l however being preferably slightly closer tol 'ing properly to roll the'cans upon the tracks 2-2 so as to bring said pails properly into contact with the nasting mechanism and the label box, but said belts also serving to dis- 'charge the labeled cans from the machine.

In order to prevent the cans from rising upon their ears as they are rolled upon the tracks 2. said tracks serve to permit the cans themselves to roll smoothly thereupon.

IVhile the lugs or ears of the receptacle have been illustrated and described as a convenient agent for contacting with the guide and arresting rotation, other projections on the rece tacles may be employed in like manner for this purpose.

By the term can as used in the specication and claims, I intend to include generally any receptacles adapted to be fed as described, irrespective of whether they be commonly `designated as cans, pails, or by other names.

While I have herein shown and particularly described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not Wish to be limitedl to the details of construction shown, but

Having thus described lny invention, I claim as new and desire to-secure by Letters Patent the following l. A can feeder including a track structure upon Which-the cans may initially roll and thereafter slide to peripherally adjust the cans with relation to the track structure, means operating upon the cans to prevent the rotation thereof While sliding, and means for advancing the cansupon the track structure upon the separation of the cans from the aforesaid means. f

2. A can feeder including a track structure-*u on which cans ma initially roll and therea er slide to perip erally adjust the cans with relation to the track structure, a

guard structure coextensive With a portion of` the track structure and serving to prevent rotation of said cans while sliding, and means for advancing the'cans upon the track structure upon the dissociation of said cans from said guard structure.

lacting positively to transfer the cans upon the dissociation of the cans from the aforesaid means.

4. A .can feeder including a track structure u on which cans may be slid during a part o their travel, a guard structure coextensive with a portion of the track structure and serving to prevent rotation of said cans While-sliding to peripherally adjust the cans with relation to the track structure, and means acting positively to transfer the cans upon the dissociation of the cans from the guard structure.

5. A can feeder including a track structure upon which cans may be placed and slid, and means for holding the cans from rotation while sliding to peripherally adjust the cans with relation to the track structure.

G. A can feeder having a track structure upon fwhich cans may initially roll and thereafter slide, and means for arresting the rotation of successive cans in uniform position and maintaining this position in a subsequent sliding movement to peripherally adjust the cans with relation to the track structure. y

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 1908.- l

WILLIAM SPAIN.

' Witnesses:

En DIVAL, C. L. MoCLosKEY.

23rd day of'October A. D., 

